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Guest Thinkers — February 22, 2011

“Not Our Best Work”

Dominic Basulto

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Many companies ask their customers to tell them what they’re doing right or what they’d like to see more of. This is a classic positive feedback loop, in which positive behavior is rewarded with even more positive behavior. What happens, though, when companies ask their customers to tell them what they’ve done wrong? TIME Magazine has a fun little feature on its website, asking readers to pick the worst TIME Magazine cover of all time. (After 85 years in business, I guess TIME feels comfortable with a little self-deprecating humor)

Whatever you do, please don’t click on this TIME cover from 1981. You’ll forever lose any respect for journalistic integrity. (What? You clicked on that cover? Then, please, please, don’t click on this cover)

[image: TIME Magazine covers]

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